Advice and Tools
For every step of your Ostomy Journey
SASS aims to advocate and align the standard of Stoma care and services across South Africa which will be applicable to both the private and public sectors.
Ostomy Care
Tips and Tricks
The South African Society of Stomates (SASS) is a Non-profit organization formed by Ostomates across Southern Africa to facilitate a “holistic” approach to ostomy patient care by bridging the gap between the private and public sectors whilst advocating for the rights of fellow ostomates throughout the country.
SASS VALUE STATEMENT
SASS is dedicated to advocating for the rights and well-being of ostomates across South Africa. We strive to bridge the gap between private and public healthcare sectors, ensuring that all ostomates receive the highest standard of care.
Our mission is to provide comprehensive support, education, and resources to empower ostomates and their families, helping them navigate their new normal with confidence and dignity. By collaborating closely with clinicians and healthcare professionals, we ensure that our community receives expert care and guidance.
Aligning with global standards set by The International Ostomy Association (IOA), we aim to foster a community where every ostomate feels supported, informed, and valued.
Featured Topics
For Living with a Colostomy, Ileostomy or Urostomy
Help us achieve
What we set out to achieve with YOUR help
GET EDUCATED
Medically reviewed surgery-specific information. Making sure you have access to the best possible care. Ostomy pouch management tips, diet & nutrition, skincare, sexuality, travel tips and more!
FEEL SUPPORTED
Support to you & your family whilst you transition into your new normal. You will have access to a local peer support group, where you can get answers to questions, or connect with our Facebook community.
BE AN ADVOCATE
We aim to advocate the standard of Stoma care across private and public sectors, whilst aligning with the global standards set out by The International Ostomy Association (IOA).
She Refused to Walk Away.
"Sister Kabini stood up for me when no one else would."
SASS Stoma Nurse Excellence Awards 2026
Some nurses do more than provide care. They become your voice when you need one most.
As part of the SASS Stoma Nurse Excellence Awards 2026, we are sharing the inspiring stories of stoma nurses who have made a lasting difference in the lives of their patients.
Today we share the nomination of Sister Kabini from Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital, through the heartfelt words of her patient, Thabisile Dikgale.
"I once went there to collect bags while I was in severe pain because my stoma was blocked, and I didn`t know what was wrong. She took me to the casualty department and stayed with me until I was seen. The doctors initially complained that I wasn`t their patient because I belonged to another hospital, and they said they couldn`t help me. She stood up for me and insisted that I receive treatment. Thanks to her persistence, they eventually helped me, and only then did she leave."
Stories like this remind us that exceptional nursing is about more than clinical care. It is about compassion, courage, advocacy and standing beside patients when they need someone most.
Has a stoma nurse made a difference in your life?
If a stoma nurse has supported you, encouraged you, fought for you or helped you regain your confidence, we`d love to hear your story.
Nominate them for the SASS Stoma Nurse Excellence Awards 2026 and help us celebrate the healthcare professionals whose dedication changes lives every day.
Submit your nomination here:
https://sasstomates.org.za/stoma-nurse-awards/
Every nomination tells a story. Every story celebrates excellence.
#SASSStomaNurseExcellenceAwards #StomaNurse #NurseAppreciation #PatientStory #OstomyCare #SASS #StrongerTogether
Healthcare is changing.
Patients are living longer with increasingly complex needs. Care is no longer delivered by one profession, one hospital or one clinic, it depends on connected teams working together across the healthcare system.
That is why we are honored to welcome the Special Address by Prof Nicholas Crisp at the SASS2026 National Conference on the topic:
"Complex Patients, Connected Systems: Building a Digitally Enabled Multidisciplinary Health System Under NHI," where he will explore how digital innovation, integrated care and multidisciplinary collaboration are shaping the future of healthcare in South Africa.
Whether you are a surgeon, stoma nurse, wound care clinician, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, dietitian, biokineticists or another member of the healthcare team, this session will provide valuable insight into the evolving healthcare landscape—and what it means for the patients we serve.
At SASS, we believe better outcomes begin with better collaboration.
Join us in Cape Town on 2–3 October 2026 as we bring together healthcare professionals from across South Africa to learn, connect and help shape the future of wound, ostomy and continence care.
📍 DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Woodstock, Cape Town
🔗 Register today: www.sass2026.co.za
#SASS2026 #WoundCare #OstomyCare #ContinenceCare #DigitalHealth #IntegratedCare #MultidisciplinaryCare #HealthcareLeadership #StrongerTogether
Every Registration Strengthens Our Voice
A single registration may seem small.
But when thousands of ostomates stand together, our collective voice becomes impossible to ignore.
Every person who registers with the SASS National Stoma Registry helps build the evidence needed to advocate for:
- Better access to healthcare services
- Appropriate ostomy products and support
- Increased access to specialist stoma care
- Better healthcare planning and resource allocation
- Stronger representation of the ostomy community
For too long, decisions about ostomy care have been made without a clear understanding of how many people are affected.
The National Stoma Registry is helping to change that.
Every registration adds another voice.
Every voice adds strength.
And together, we can build a future where every ostomate receives the care, support and dignity they deserve.
Register today:
https://sasslink.co.za/register.php
Together, our voices are stronger.
#SASSLink #NationalStomaRegistry #OstomyAdvocacy #PatientVoice #HealthcareEquity #OstomyCare #StrongerTogether #SouthAfrica #BetterStomaCare #SASS
💙 SASS Supporting Society Spotlight
The South African Society of Stomates (SASS) is proud to support Heart 4 the Wounded 2026.
Healthcare is at its best when knowledge, compassion and collaboration come together. Heart 4 the Wounded has built a respected multidisciplinary platform where healthcare professionals, researchers, patient advocates and industry partners unite to improve patient care.
This year`s theme,
"Where Science, Compassion and Purpose Meet"
reflects values that resonate deeply with our own mission at SASS.
Whether your passion is wound care, ostomy care, tissue viability, rehabilitation or patient advocacy, this conference promises inspiring speakers, practical learning and meaningful conversations that place patients at the centre of healthcare.
📅 24–25 July 2026
📍 CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria
We encourage our members, stoma care nurses, clinicians and healthcare professionals to learn more and consider joining this outstanding event.
Together we are stronger.
Together we improve lives.
💙 Proud Supporting Society
Learn more and register here:
Heart 4 the Wounded Conference
#Heart4TheWounded2026 #BeTheDifference #WoundCare #OstomyCare #PatientAdvocacy HealthcareEducation SASS StrongerTogether MultidisciplinaryCare
Too many ostomates are living unseen by the healthcare system.
Not because they don`t matter.
Because they`re not counted.
When a community isn`t measured, its needs are often underestimated. Access to products, support services, specialist care and healthcare planning all depend on understanding who needs help and where.
SASS is working to change that.
The National Stoma Registry is about more than numbers. It`s about ensuring every ostomate has a voice and helping build a future where ostomy care is planned around real needs.
If you have a stoma, please take 2 minutes to register.
Your registration helps us advocate for all ostomates in South Africa.
Register today:
sasslink.co.za/register
Count me in. Count us all.
Nominations Are Now Open
Every ostomate has a story.
And behind many of those stories is a stoma nurse who provided comfort during uncertainty, confidence during recovery, and support when it was needed most.
The SASS Stoma Nurse Excellence Awards 2026 are your opportunity to recognise the nurses whose compassion, dedication and expertise have made a lasting impact.
We are now inviting:
✅ Ostomates
✅ Family members and caregivers
✅ Clinicians and healthcare professionals
✅ Colleagues and peers
to nominate outstanding stoma nurses from across South Africa.
These are the professionals who go beyond clinical care to restore dignity, build confidence and improve lives.
If a stoma nurse has made a difference to you or someone you care about, we encourage you to share their story.
🏆 Submit your nomination today:
sasstomates.org.za/stoma-nurse-awards
Because exceptional nurses deserve exceptional recognition.
#StomaNurseExcellenceAwards #SASS #NominationsOpen #StomaNurse #OstomyCare #HealthcareHeroes #NursingExcellence #CompassionInCare #PatientCare #SouthAfrica
Introducing the SASS Stoma Nurse Excellence Awards 2026
Stoma care is more
than clinical care.
It is compassion.
It is resilience.
We invite patients, families, colleagues and healthcare professionals to help us recognise the nurses who make a real difference.
If a stoma nurse has made an impact on your life, now is the time to say thank you.
Nominate a deserving stoma nurse today:
sasstomates.org.za/stoma-nurse-awards
Together, let`s celebrate the professionals who help ostomates navigate one of life`s most challenging journeys with confidence and dignity.
#StomaNurseExcellenceAwards #SASS #StomaNurse #OstomyCare #NursingExcellence #PatientCare #HealthcareHeroes #CompassionInCare #StomaTherapy #SouthAfrica
If ostomates are not counted, they are overlooked.
- Healthcare systems plan services based on data.
- Funders allocate resources based on data.
- Policymakers make decisions based on data.
Yet there is currently no national registry showing how many ostomates live in South Africa or what their needs are.
SASS is changing that.
The National Stoma Registry will help provide the evidence needed to advocate for better access to products, specialised support services, education, and equitable ostomy care.
Registering takes less than 2 minutes, but the impact could help shape the future of ostomy care for years to come.
Register today:
https://sasslink.co.za/register.php
Because every ostomate deserves to be counted.
#CountUsIn #NationalStomaRegistry #SASSLink #OstomyCare #HealthcareAdvocacy #SouthAfrica
SASS Blog
What has been happening at SASS
SASS Stoma Nurse Excellence Awards 2026
Honouring Nurses Who Change Lives Behind every ostomate’s journey is often a nurse who made an impossible moment feel manageable.A nurse who provided dignity during uncertainty.A nurse who offered reassurance, compassion, education, and hope. The SASS Stoma Nurse Excellence Awards were created to recognise and celebrate stoma nurses who go above and beyond in supporting […]
SASS2026 Conference: Multidisciplinary Ostomy Care Conference in South Africa
The South African Society of Ostomates (SASS) will host the SASS2026 Conference at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cape Town, bringing together healthcare professionals involved in the care and rehabilitation of people living with a stoma. The conference is designed as a multidisciplinary clinical platform, supporting knowledge-sharing across nursing, physiotherapy, biokinetics, dietetics, occupational therapy, and […]
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